islandshore | 55

[Riku would not be the friend that he is if he let Sora off the hook for embarrassing attempts to get him a girlfriend. No, if Sora's gonna play that game, then it's only natural for Riku to follow suit, which is why he's addressing the network today.]

Hey, Johto. Kanto. Have I got some news for you.

[Riku grins wildly as he reaches behind his back and holds up a photo for all to see:]

See this guy? Dorky grin, messy hair, looks kind of like a goofball? Well, that's because he is, but that's not the point. No, the point is, he's feeling kind of down in the dumps. A bit lonely. Guy spends all his time glued to my hip, but deep down, he wants nothing more than to serenade someone special into the night, and--

[He has to stop himself because... man is he having trouble taking this seriously, but darn it. Sora needs a taste of his own medicine.

Right, after catching his breath, Riku continues.]

The point is, he's looking for a date. Or maybe a handful. Maybe even something longterm. Sora's a complete sap, making friends with everyone he meets, always wearing the same stupid smile, and, to be fair, he's probably the best friend a guy could ask for. But there is one little road bump: he actually believes in Santa Claus.

Which brings me to point two. See, I noticed a ton of people vouching for him, but I know there's gotta be at least some of you smart enough to admit Santa's made up. Even if you're not into bets, here's some incentive: speak up, and there's a chance you might get to see Sora belt out cheesy Christmas songs. Trust me, you'll get a good laugh.

[Well, Twilight suggested bringing it up. Whether or not it works remains to be seen.]

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And the Santa thing? It really is because Riku likes to tease me for believing, even though I met him. So it's not just that I really don't like it when he does that but he's my best friend so...

But the whole reason that we did this last year was so that I could prove that it doesn't matter how old or young you are. There's lots of things that you can't see. Doesn't mean that they're not there. There's lots of stuff that seems impossible or too hard, but really? It's not. And just because you believe in stuff that doesn't seem likely doesn't mean you're uncool or being a little kid.

Like I said, you can believe in Santa or goblins or werewolves--whatever kind of monster or magical creature you want, it doesn't indicate maturity or intelligence. But he's asking, I'm answering.

Besides, you are a kid, aren't you? What does it matter?

[A beat.]

Werewolves are real, by the way. It's just that there's only one left where I'm from.

Apparently being seventeen means you can't be a kid. I dunno really.

Pfft. Believing in werewolves but not other things...

Eh? That's silly. [Privately, though, she did take Sora for a little younger. It's that adorable baby face, okay.]

Sure, Witches, monsters, werewolves, I believe in all of those things. I fight them. What are you laughing for, you're the kid that believes in Santa.

I'm laughing at it because you believe in all of these things, but Santa seems impossible.

Don't get me wrong. I believe in that stuff too. Hard not to when you have a witch like Maleficent controlling the Heartless.

[Well some version of him existed at one point, but this pedantic little shit refuses to believe he's anything but dead in her world.]

Maleficent? That's quite a name, are the Heartless her familiars?

Nah. If I remember right, Heartless just follow after someone who is strong.

They're kinda mindless. All they really do is find more hearts to take and make more Heartless.

The creatures eat hearts in your world? That sounds pretty extreme. [Says the shonen protagonist who's from a series called Soul Eater.]

No. They just collect them. Heartless are just what's left after someone's heart is taken. Just the dark parts.

...But how do you take someone's heart? That sounds messy.

Heart. Soul. I think deep down they're the same thing. Or they're the same things in this instance.

Hmmm...I guess that makes sense. [You gave her something to think about, Sora, four for you!] I would have never thought of it that way, I'm used to seeing souls as the sum of your being and the heart as just...what keeps you going!

That's kind of what we mean when we say Heart. It's the thing that makes you you.

...[But if Heartless take hearts, do people die. That is the question. Usually when peoples' souls are taken they're deader than dead.

Then again, that might be one of those depressing things to ask so she just won't.]

So does it not bother you that your friend is setting you up like this?

...Not really. I mean there is a girl I kinda like. BUt I don't think that's going to happen. Kinda hard when you don't see her for months and months at a time, you know?

[ and she has seemed really into Sasuke last he knew... ]

...Umm.

[By the look on her face, that's a "no."]

I've never "liked" someone. Never had an interest in that, or very much time to spend on it. I think I know what you mean, though, no sense in pining over a crush that's probably never coming back. [...Wow that sounded really insensitive, Maka you're bad at this.] He's right, though, your friend. There's a lot of stuff about you that's likable, even if you believe in Santa.

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